GM workers strike at Chevrolet SUV plant

The huge-selling Chevrolet Equinox crossover is one of GM’s most important products. An all-new version for 2018 should deliver greater profitability (and more sales).(Photo: General Motors)

DETROIT — Workers at a General Motors plant in Ontario, Canada, where the popular Chevrolet Equinox compact SUV is made went on strike late Sunday as negotiators failed to reach agreement on a new contract.

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According to Reuters, General Motors might stop making some of its popular cars as a result of plummeting car sales.USA TODAY

The union, Unifor Local 88, posted an announcement on its website about the strike shortly before 11 p.m. ET.

“Your master bargaining committee has not been successful in securing a tentative agreement with the company. The membership of Unifor Local 88 working at the GM CAMI Assembly Plant will be on strike at 10:59 PM tonight, Sunday, September 17, 2017.”

Jennifer Wright, a spokeswoman for General Motors Canada, released a company statement late Sunday:

“While General Motors of Canada and our Unifor partners have made very positive progress on several issues over the past weeks, the Company is disappointed that we were not able to complete a new agreement. We encourage Unifor to resume negotiations and to continue working together to secure a competitive agreement.”

Mike Van Boekel, Unifor Local 88 GM Unit chairperson, had said earlier in the weekend that the situation was “a long way from great,” but he indicated that the union was prepared to keep working toward a deal until the strike deadline.

The union had said it was seeking “a commitment to address shop floor issues, improved wages & benefits and a new investment at our facility.” But tensions had been high after General Motors made job cuts earlier this year, and the membership authorized a strike if a deal was not reached by Sunday’s deadline.

According to information on the GM website, the Cami Assembly plant in Ingersoll, Ontario employs about 2,752 workers. The Cami plant began as a joint venture between GM and Suzuki in 1986, and GM took full ownership in 2011, according to the company.